After a month of matches with Andoni Iraola in charge, there has definitely been improvements in defence, but Liverpool’s big-money attackers are still struggling to gel.
Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth was far from a classic, but the victory to take the Reds within three points of Arsenal was a sign of how the team have improved since Iraola’s arrival.
Last season, after Liverpool had come back from two down, Arne Slot’s side lost to a late goal scored by Amine Adli.
This time around, there were no hiccups. The Reds put in an assured defensive display, limiting the hosts to 0.79 expected goals.
Here, Dan Clubbe (@dan_clubbe) and Paddy Allen (@P_Allen21) assess Iraola’s first month in the job and Liverpool’s win on the south coast.
What did we learn from Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth?
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PADDY: One of the big takeaways for me is the goalkeeper.
Alisson looks like he’s back to the level we’re used to him being at. The save from Evanilson is outrageous and there are a fair few catches from corners that no other ‘keeper makes.
His performances have been a big part of why we look pretty solid defensively.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
DAN: We got the result but it wasn’t necessarily a performance that suggested everything is clicking yet, certainly from an attacking perspective – patience will be required.
Meanwhile, defensively we look far more solid and the subs certainly helped us get over the line.
On another positive note, another goal for Alexander Isak and managing to come through a difficult away game with a clean sheet; I’m not sure we’d have done that a year ago and winning ugly is certainly a good habit to build.
Jeremy Jacquet… A word for him, please!
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremy Jacquet during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremy Jacquet during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PADDY: Brilliant!
To come into this league at his age, especially off the back of an injury that can be pretty awkward to recover from, and take to it like a duck to water, isn’t something I expected at all.
He smells danger, which is something this side desperately needs and his style of play complements Van Dijk’s perfectly as he gets older.
DAN: Sensational.
He’s taken to life at Liverpool with consummate ease and looks every inch a ready-made top-class Premier League centre-back.
There’s a calmness and an assuredness that he does everything with that makes us look solid, and in turn makes me feel safe.
It’s exciting to consider what could come when you remember that these are the first handful of appearances he’s made for us.
Besides Jacquet’s form, what have been the main positives from the last month?
DAN: While it’s been rocky and perhaps a little underwhelming, we’re unbeaten in seven – that’s something.
Individually, I think the performances of Gakpo and Ronald Araujo have been most pleasing and, in some ways, perhaps a little surprising.
PADDY: Two massive positives for me are Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister.
The pair of them came in for a lot of stick last year, rightfully so in parts, but they’ve both bounced back and started this season superbly.
Gakpo looks like a totally different player to that of last season and the midfield looks in complete disarray when Macca’s not in there.
What should Iraola be working on over the international break?
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during the post-match press conference after the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during the post-match press conference after the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PADDY: It’s a tricky one considering there’s going to be very few senior players there.
I think it gives Iraola a good chance to get the fringe players that haven’t played much and won’t be going away up to speed (the Gomezes and Endos of the world).
I think we’ll learn a lot about what this season is going to look like when we get to the November internationals, and those fringe players are going to have to play a part if we want to maximise results.
DAN: Honestly, I would be surprised if what to do about Florian Wirtz wasn’t at the forefront of his mind.
Such is the shortage of numbers in the building, there are major limitations on what he can do collectively with the group, so he should be conjuring up a masterplan for how Liverpool move forward with Wirtz.
Such is his talent and such is the lack of it we’re seeing, it feels like we are reaching a bit of a tipping point with whether to stick or twist.
We have looked a little blunt in attack, and the German’s innate, currently absent ability to make things happen would be a welcome sight, but Sunday was perhaps his most disappointing showing to date.
Football – FA Premier League – AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool FC
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2026: Liverpool's Ronald Araújo during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)